The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-22
NEARER COMESNATURALGAS
A Strong Supply Is Found on the Har-
ris Farm, Eleven Miles North of Here.
The Drillers Declare that the Well Is Equal
to Any in kokomo or the First
Discovered at Noblesville.

Indianapolis is nearer gas than ever for the
simple reason that gas is nearer Indianapolis.
Two days ago the nearest gas wells were at No
blesville, twenty-one miles north, and at Green
field, twenty miles east. Yesterday the expected
strike took place at the well on the Harris farm.
the Noblesville pike, short distance beyond
Allisonville, thirteen miles from Circle Park,
but only eleven miles from the north corporate
line of the city. The members of the Indian
apolis Natural-gas Company were properly en-
thusiastic over this strike, and bulletins were
hung out at a number of places announcing it
Judge Martindale. G. r. Root, George c. BraE-
nam and others went out to see the well. and
late in the afternoon returned with reports even
brighter than the first that had been received
here.
''What kind of strike is it," inquired a
Journal reporter of j. w. Churchill of the firm
of Delany & Churchill who drilled the well.
at is good WELL" was the answer. 1--WE
struck the Trenton at $50 feet, and got the first
gas at two feet into the rock. At seven feet we
got q strong flow, and we then went down to
eighteen feet, where it was stronger. At eight
cen feet it showed tbs coarse rock light in color.
don't think there is any prospect of stronger
flow by going deeper, though shooting the we'll
would likely greatly increase the flow. We
struck gas at IL o'clock Monday night, and shut
down Immediately. At o'clock this morning
we got what we were after. believe the well
will give a good pressure-about $50 pounds
but of course, there is no way of determining
that now. AS to flow of gas. it will yield better
than the first well at Noblesville. and about
equal to the Kokomo wells. We drilled those
wells. This strike was made in fourteen days,
without an accident from first to last"
wells, and this well is as good as they are 1t
is good we'll.
G. R. Root said it was the intention of the
company to begin laying pipes from the well to
the city at once. He thought the problem was
now solved and there was no doubt about a
supply, az the wells would grow stronger further
towards Noblesville.
Mr.. Allen Fletcher said the company would
proceed TO develop the field at once It is his
idea that the Fishers station we'll will be much
better. The derrick and machinery that have
been in use at the Harris well will be put at
work Immediately in drilling another well.
Fishers station is only fifteen miles from the
Union Depot.
Judge E. B. Martindale, in speaking of the
new well. said 81 am much pleased with our
success, as this we'll is only eleven miles from
Indianapolis. l arrived at the we'll at IL o'clock
this morning. The flow of gas was strong and in
short time increased fully so per cent. The
men at the well say it IS growing stronger all the
time. AS to comparisons the Harris WELL as it
stands to-day, is as good as the best well at
Kokomo and equal to either Of the two smaller
wells at Noblesville. / think it is well that
will show three hundred more pounds pres
sure. We put cap it with two two-inch
holes and it roared like steam engine It will
make a big well by shooting and we will prob
ably shoot it, as it is undoubtedly far above
the saltwater level. We will pipe the
well tomorrow, put on screw casing head
and pipe the gas outside the derrick SO that it
will be safe to light it. We will run it through
a two-inch pipe OF through two two-inch pipes,
and what kind of flame it gives / think
the well will now yield a million feet OF gas a
day. 1t is to the Fishers Station we'll that we
look for ig yield All the indications are that
that will .e boomer At Broad Ripple the
bearing rock is only sixteen inches. At
Harris's it is four feet and at Fishers station
it will be at least six feet. We have leases "a
A. 900 acres of land Whereabouts and the Harris
we'll is on the southern edge Of it. We feel very
and as to money to pipe and distribute it, the
caniral is assuradn